NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7528, 18 April 1885, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, April 17.

The certificate of Captain Helanders, of the Thomas Russell, was suspended for six

months, and he has to pay the costs of the enquiry. There is no sign yet of the Hinemoa. The Minister of Public Works has gone to Kaipara. The Coptic arrived to-night from London, via Hobart, all well.

'The police are still scouring the country for M'Kelvie.

The prospectus is out of the Woollen Manufacturing Company, 100,000 shares'of £1 each, half only to be at present issued. Smith v. Bond (House Surgeon of the Hospital), an action for £SOO damages for alleged maltreatment as a patient, resulted iu a verdict for defendant, with costs.

A Queensland squatter, named Mr P. A. Clarke, died at the Star Hotel this morning from narcotic poisoning. He arrived here on March 23, and had intended leaving yesterday for Melbourne. Yesterday the doctors were called in, and found him to he suffering from poisoning by chlorodyne. The usual remedies were applied, but without avail, and he died this morning. The Hon E. Richardson, accompanied by Colonel Lyon, yesterday visited the North Head defences.

William Thorne, a draper at Parnell, died suddenly this morning. He exclaimed “ I have taken a powder,” and after a few spasmodic struggles, died. It is supposed that he poisoned himself.

WELLINGTON, April 17,

The Harbour Board in Committee yesterday discussed the circumstances connected with the grounding of the Ruapehu last week. The Board eventually decided, as there had been no culpable negligence on the part of the pilot, that his services should be retained, but it was resolved to caution him to be more careful in future. It was also decided that the Board could not be held responsible for any loss sus-. taiued by the grounding of the steamer, the opinion of Mr Gully and others being to the effect that the duty of the Harbour Beard was simply to provide competent pilots.

WESTPORT, April 17.

The Westport Coal Company intend re-commencing work in their mine on Monday next. Sixty new miners have been engaged in other parts of the Colony, to take the place of the men who struck work in December last. The first instalment of new hands arrived to-day.

DUNEDIN, April 17.

The Hon George M’Lean will act as Governor at the opening of the Dunedin mimic Parliament to-morrow night.

INVERCARGILL, April 17.

The house of C. R. Martin, saw miller at Forest Hill, was destroyed by fire with its contents on Thursday forenoon. The house, which contained four rooms and a scullery, was insured for £4OO in the National Office, which also held a policy of £3OO on the furniture. Martin is in Victoria. His wife says that she had put some wood on the hob to dry, and went to the dairy. She supposes the wood ignited and fell on the floor. When she returned she only had time to save the table cover.